Beer faucet



Nov. 1, 1938. G. J. BELKNAP BEER FAUCET Filed Feb. 15

IN ENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 1 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BEER FAUCET Application February 15, 1936, Serial No. 64,045

9 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in faucets and has particular relation to beer faucets.

An object of the invention is toprovide a faucet wherein on closing of the valve therein the spout thereof is immediately drained of all liquid so that there is no after drip and waste of the liquid being dispensed.

In these faucets there isconsiderable space in the discharge spout or portion under the valve seat, and when the valve is closed this as retained filled with the liquid, such as beer, by the atmospheric pressure, and then later gradually drips out after the glass which has just been filled is removed. This space may hold an ounce or more of liquid so that on drawing of each glass of beer for instance an ounce or more may be lost, which will obviously amount to a considerable loss in drawing many glasses. It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an opening which admits air to the upper part of this space in the spout as soon as .the valve is closed after drawing a glass of beer and thus permit the liquid in the spout to immediately flow into .the glass. Means is also provided operated by the valve handle to .close this air opening just prior to the opening of the faucet valve and keep it closed while said Valve is open, but to open the air inlet to drain the spout just as soon as the faucet valve is closed.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein a satisfactory embodiment of the invention is shown. However it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details disclosed but includes all such variations and modifications as fall Within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims,

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view of the faucet of the invention, the view being taken substantially along, the line ll of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 .and showing the valve closed;

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view showing the parts positioned ready to begin opening of the valve;

Fig. 4 is a detail elevational view showing the handle pad in the position occupied by it when the valve is closed;

Fig. 5 is a similar View showing the position of the handle pad when the valve unseating pawl is in the position of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4 the handle being in the position occupied by it when the faucet valve is open;

Fig, '7 is a detail sectional View showing a vent closing means; and

Figs. 8 and 9 are elevational views at right angles toone another and showing a valve unseating pawl.

Referring in detail to the drawing the faucet is shown as comprising a body lfl'including a connecting portion H and aspout l2. -'I' he body portion ll is adapted to be connected in any suitable manner, as through a .nipp'le'l3 or the like, with a suitable source of supply .of the liquid to be dispensed, such for example as beer. Within the body at the upper endogf the spout I I there is a cross wall [4 having a passage or opening therethrough, and disposed on the upper surface of this wall is a rubber :or similar Washer 16 comprising a seat for a ballvalve ll of bronze or other suitable material. .The valve is located in-a cage .l 8 and is normally held on its seat by a coil spring l-,9 bearingat one end against the valve and at its other .end against a hollow nut or bonnet 2,0. This nut or bonnet is threaded into and closes the upper end of the faucet body after the valve parts have been placed therein and gives access for the replacement of such parts.

The valve I1 is unseated by sw ngin o .a handle 2| from the full line position to the dotted line position of 2. Such handle comprises a pair of c nnected arms 22 and a ball-like hand piece 23. A spindle ,24 is actuated by the handle, which spindle extends through the valve body and for a short distance intermediate its ends has its opposite sides flattenedat 25. A pawl 26 is mounted on this flattened portion of the spindle and is so located within the body that on turning of the spindle in one direction the pawl engages the valve H and unseats it. As shown best in Figs. 8 and -9 pawl 26 includes a perforated enlarged portion 21 which receives the flattened portion of spindle 2.4, .and the perforation of which. includes a pair of fiat sides 28 cooperating with the flats of the spindle so that the pawl turns w th the spi d .A o' pawlincludes an arm .29 the outer or free end of which may be brought against the valve H to unseat it. 7

At one end spindle .24 includes a head-like por tion having a tapped :opening in its outer end and having its .outer end portion reduced providing a shoulder .31. The inner surface .of the head 30 is tapered .asat .32 and such taper enters 'into the tapered portion of a soft metalbearingl wall 35 through which the spindle also extends and a fiberwasher 36 is held against the wall 35 spindle.

by a coil spring, 31 disposed about a portion of the spindle. As here shown a metal washer 38 is interposed between the spring 31 and the washer 36 and a nut 39is threaded on the end of the against the nut 39 tending to draw the spindle head 30 into the bearing 33 whereby the spindle is kept in a solid condition against any loose j above operation is also true, and on return move- 'ment of the handle the disc 46 is shifted or carried away from the vent just as soon as the valve movements and making it liquid tight. The spring also presses fibre washer against wall 35 l and keeps the opening therein leakproof. V

A sleeve or hollow screw 40 encloses the nut 39 and the spring 31 andis threaded to the faucet body at 4|. One arm of the handle has bearing 'on the sleeve 40 and it will be apparent that the spindle is turnable relative tothis sleeve.

The otherarm 22 of the handle has a non-circular opening which. receives the outer reduced 'nIOn-circularenjd portion of the head of .the

spindle so the spindle is turned by the handle. The handle is secured tothe spindle by being clamped between the shoulder 3| and the relatively large headof a screw-threaded into the 7 head of the spindle. By referen ce to Fig. 1 it will benoted that the pawl 26is mounted on that r portion of'the spindle located between the walls fan 34 and 350i the faucet body.

From Fig. 2 it will be clear thatin the opening and closing of the valve H the handle 2lis moved only a short distance. As onearm of the handle is secured to the spindle swinging move- 'rnent of the handle results in turning movement 'of the'spindle, and'as the handle is swung from the full line position (Fig. 2) to the dotted line position the pawl 26 is swung to its dotted line position forcing the valve l1 upwardlyof its seat.

, I provide means for venting the spout as soon or other suitable material as the'valveis closed so that suchliquid immediatelyflows out of the spout into a glass orother container being filled and does not gradually drip. from the spout and become wasted. To this end a small vent opening 451s drilled through a side wall of the faucet body I and enters the spout l2 in the upper portion thereof, preferably just below the valve seat wall M. The outer end of this vent" is closed. by a discorpad v46 of leather whenever the'valve l1 isoflf'itsseat. V H I i The pad 46 is carried by an 'inner head-like portion 41 of a plunger mounted in one or the handlearms 22 and including a stem portion 48 'telescopingwith a hollow screw 49 threaded into said handle arm. The end ofthe-stem is preferably recessed to receive, the pad 46. .A coilspring 50 is 'disposed'between the inner end of thescrew 49 and thejouter side of theplunger head .4'ILand constantly urges the plunger in the direction of The spring 31 'is constantly bearing r ready to open it. In the dotted line position of r Fig. 2 and inFig. 6 the handle 2| is in its forward position the valve I 1 is open and the pad 46 closing the vent 45. Since the vent is closed justprior to the opening of the valve ll the liquid being dispensed does not have an opportunity to squirt out through the vent. The reverse of the the upper portion of the-spout [2 so that the liquid-in the spout immediately drains therefrom.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a faucet, a. body including a connecting portion and a spout, a:valve controlling the passage of liquid from said portion to said spout, a handle controlling the opening and closing of said valve, said body having a vent leading into the upper part of the spout portion thereof,

and means movable to andfrom a position against the outer end of said vent for closing and opening the same as said valve is opened'and closed.

2. In a faucet, a body including a spout, a nor: mally closed valve controlling the passage of liquid through the body to the spout, said body having a normally open vent communicating with the inner portion of the spout, means to move said valve to open position, and means movable by said first means to a position against the outer end of said vent to close it prior'to the tion through the body to the spout, said body 7 having a normally open vent leading into the same at the spout side of said valveseat,,means operable to move said-valve off its seat, and means movable by the first means to a positionag'ainst one end of said vent to close it prior to the unseating of the valve.

4. In a faucet, a body including a spout, a valve 7 seat, a valve, means normallymaintaining said,

valve on its seat cutting off communication through the body to the spout,said body having a normally'open vent entering the same at the spout side of the valve seat, ahandle movable to unseat said valve, and means movable by said handle into a position across one'end of and closing said vent as thehandle is moved to open said valve.

5 In a faucet, a body including a spout, a valve seat, a valve, means normally maintaining said valve on its seat cutting off communication 7 through the body to the spout, said body havinga normally open ventleading into the same at the spout side of said valve seat, a spindle mount ed in said body, a pawl on said spindle, a handle shiftable to turn said spindle to cause the pawl to engage and unseat the valve, and means moved,

by said handle into a position closing said vent:

as thehandle is moved to unseat the valve. 7

6. In a faucet, a body including a spout, a valve seat, a valve, means normally maintaining said valve on its seat cutting off communication through the body to the spout, said body having a normally open vent entering the same at the spout side of the valve seat, a spindle mounted in said body, a pawl on said spindle, a handle shiftable to turn said spindle to cause the pawl to engage and unseat the valve, means moved by said handle into a position closing said vent as the handle is moved to unseat the valve, and said pawl and means so related that as the handle is moved to unseat the valve said means is moved into position closing the vent prior to the unseating of the valve by the pawl.

'7. In a faucet, a body including a spout, a valve seat, a valve, means normally maintaining said valve on its seat cutting off communication through the body to the spout, a spindle mounted in the body, a pawl on the spindle, a handle secured to said spindle at the side of the body and operable to turn the spindle to cause the pawl to engage and unseat the valve, said body having a vent opening through a side wall thereof entering the spout at the outlet side of the valve seat, and a spring pressed means bearing against the side of the valve body and movable with the handle to and from a position closing said vent opening as the handle is moved to open and close the valve.

8. In a faucet, a body including a spout, a valve seat, a valve, means normally maintaining said valve on its seat cutting off communication through the body to the spout, a spindle mounted in the body, a pawl on the spindle, a handle secured to said spindle at the side of the body and operable to turn the spindle to cause the pawl to engage and unseat the valve, said body having a Vent opening through a side wall thereof entering the spout at the outlet side of the valve seat, a plunger carried by the handle at the side of the faucet body, a pad carried at the inner end of said plunger, a spring constantly acting on the plunger and keeping the pad against the side of the faucet body, and said plunger and pad movable with the handle to have the pad cover the vent when the handle is moved to open the Valve and to expose the vent when the handle is moved to close the valve.

9. In a faucet of the character described, a

body, an inlet passage to said body for direct connection with a source of liquid supply, a single valve in the faucet controlling the passage of liquid therethrough, said body having a downwardly directed discharge spout leading from the outlet side of the valve independently thereof, there being a vent opening leading to the upperportion of said spout to permit entrance of air to allow the liquid in the spout to flow l therefrom, operating means movable from a normal position to open the valve, and means separate from the valve operable by said movement to close the vent and operable to open the vent by movement of said operating means to its normal position.

GEORGE J. BELKNAP. 

